Preparing to Stay: Examining the Effects of Specialized Preparation on Urban Teacher Retention
Download
PDF (568 KB, 30 Pages)
Kimberly Barraza Lyons
Researchers and teacher educators are increasingly recognize the importance of preparing pre-service teachers for the myriad of challenges awaiting them in high-poverty schools. However, relatively little is known about the link between specialized teacher education and teacher retention. Using data obtained as part of an on-going longitudinal study of graduates of a specialized urban teacher education program, this paper reports on the projected retention rates of beginning, specially-prepared teachers in high-poverty schools and compares them with the anticipated retention rates of beginning teachers from a national sample. Although only a first step in a broader, systematic analysis of the effect of specialized teacher preparation on retention, findings speak to the important role beginning teacher support and induction play in the effort to retain teachers in high-poverty schools and lay the groundwork for future comparative studies.